What Is Orthodontic Decompensation?
If you are preparing for jaw surgery, you will hear this term frequently. Here is a simple explanation.
Orthodontic decompensation is the process of moving teeth back to their natural position within each jaw before orthognathic surgery. It is the first phase of orthodontic treatment in preparation for jaw surgery.
- Why is it needed? Over time, your teeth naturally tilt and shift to compensate for your jaw misalignment. For example:
- In a crossbite, teeth tilt to meet each other
- In an underbite, lower teeth may lean backward to make contact
- In an overbite, upper teeth may flare out
These compensations hide the true severity of the jaw problem. For surgery to work correctly, the orthodontist must "undecompensate" β remove these compensations β so the teeth sit in their true positions within each jaw.
- What happens:
- Braces are placed and gradually move teeth to their correct positions within each jaw
- The bite may look worse temporarily β this is expected
- The goal is to align teeth within each arch so they fit properly after the jaw is moved
- After decompensation:
- The true nature of the jaw problem is visible
- The surgeon knows exactly where to move the jaws
- After surgery, the teeth fit together properly because they were correctly positioned beforehand
Clinical Guidance
Orthodontic decompensation removes the natural compensations your teeth made for your bad bite. It makes the jaw problem visible so the surgeon can correct it properly. The temporary "worse" appearance is a normal part of the process.